macbook
Latest
The Morning After: Monday October 24th 2016
Happy Monday. Over the weekend, we sampled smart-refrigerated wine, looked back on 15 years of iPod, and asked Amazon's AI to fact-check politicians for us. Coming up this week: Apple's MacBook event, some news from Microsoft, and a lot of companies reporting on their quarterly earnings -- if you're all about gross revenue and such.
Apple's October 27th event is reportedly all about laptops
We hope you weren't expecting a new iMac or Mac Pro at Apple's "Hello Again" event... you might be disappointed. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a mostly good track record for Apple rumors) now expects that the October 27th media gathering will focus solely on MacBooks. The highlight would be a long-rumored MacBook Pro redesign with USB-C ports and OLED touch strips. They would use Intel's Skylake-based processors, he says (what, no Kaby Lake?), but they'd get longer battery life, up to a 2TB solid-state drive and a possible "MagSafe-like" power adapter from either Apple or a third party.
Apple will finally update its Mac lineup on October 27th
It's been a very, very long time since Apple has updated its Mac lineup -- the new Macbook is the only computer that Apple has seen fit to upgrade in 2016. That should all change next week, though: We just received an invite to an event in Cupertino on Thursday, October 27th. With the yearly iPhone refresh in the rearview mirror and macOS Sierra out in the wild, it's time -- well past time, in fact -- for some new Mac computers. The event's tagline -- "Hello again" -- is a pretty clear nod to the Mac, which debuted with a big old "hello" on its screen way back in 1984.
Apple could bring E Ink keyboards to MacBooks in 2018
You may have to wait a while if you want a Mac with an E Ink keyboard. Wall Street Journal tipsters understand that Apple wants to make Sonder's e-paper keys a "standard feature" on MacBooks, but that it's aiming for a 2018 launch. Don't expect to see anything at that reported October 27th event, then. At least we're getting a hint of the functionality. As you'd expect, E Ink would let your Mac use "any" alphabet, along with special characters and media editing shortcuts. You could write emoji more like you do on a smartphone (where you replace the keyboard with an emoji picker) instead of using a keyboard shortcut and wading through an on-screen dialog box.
ASUS ZenBook 3 review: A powerful MacBook competitor with issues
Apple's tiny MacBook was a revelation when it debuted last year. It was thinner and lighter than most ultraportables on the market, and its refined design brought over some cues from Apple's mobile hardware. So it was only a matter of time before a PC maker took a swing at a similar design. Enter the ASUS ZenBook 3, a minuscule machine that promises to be just as portable as the MacBook while packing in much faster hardware. But while ASUS has proved it can sell powerful machines for far less than the competition, it's less experienced when it comes to delivering truly premium hardware. The ZenBook 3, while attractive on the surface, is a reminder that ASUS still has a lot to learn.
What we expect from Apple's big iPhone event
Apple is holding a big press event next week, and it's a pretty safe assumption at this point that we're getting a new iPhone. We're not expecting a radical reimagining of the device, but there might be a few surprises here (like no headphone jack!) to keep people on their toes. Will we see a new Apple Watch? Maybe. New MacBook Pros? Probably not. A play to repay $14.5 billion in back taxes? Keep dreaming. Watch the video above for all the latest on the Apple rumor mill.
Apple hints at OS X rebrand in the App Store
If you think about it, OS X isn't really a great name for Apple's Mac operating system. It was just meant to be the next OS after Mac OS 9, but because it has a nice round (roman) number and used all-new UNIX-based tech, Apple has stuck with the name for nigh on 17 years. According to the rumor mill and apparent slip-up on the App Store, that's about to change, however. It now seems likely that Apple will change OS X to macOS, essentially reverting to its pre-1999 naming scheme.
ASUS' ZenBook 3 vs. the updated MacBook: Which packs more punch?
The 12-inch MacBook is attractive and compact, but not without compromises. When the original came out last spring, our reviewer Dana Wollman took issue with its lackluster performance and lack of ports outside of a USB-C connection. Still, the MacBook was good enough to warrant a refresh in 2016 that delivered more battery life and improved performance. Now, ASUS is getting in on the minimalist act with its new ZenBook 3. At a glance, the new MacBook and ZenBook 3 seem quite similar indeed, with small, lightweight designs and, well, not many ports. While we'll certainly put the Zenbook 3 through its paces in a full review, a quick peek at the specs reveals two machines similar in profile, but with the potential for very different performance.
New, thinner Macbook Pros will reportedly have an OLED touch bar
Barring a big change to the trackpad, Apple's high-powered MacBook Pro models haven't seen many major differences in recent years. That may be until now. According to 9to5Mac, which is citing both Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and its own sources, the next family of MacBook Pros (or MacBooks Pro) could not only be thinner and lighter, but may also house a new OLED display touch bar just above the keyboard. This would act in place of the narrow physical function keys found on contemporary MacBooks. Apple may also bring Touch ID into its next series of laptops.
The good and bad sides of Apple's classroom hardware initiative
In late 2014, Apple announced that it would donate iPads, Macs and Apple TVs to 114 "underserved" schools as a way of getting more technology in the hands of those who don't have as much of a chance to use it. With the program well underway, The Wall Street Journal published a report on the good and bad sides thus far. While some studies have shown that schools in which students that heavily use technology actually do worse than students who do so moderately, a big part of that problem comes from not having curriculum developed that the hardware can enhance. In the case of Apple's trial, the company is providing an employee to spend 17 days per year at each school to help build lesson plans that take advantage of the company's hardware.
Disney scanner identifies gadgets by their electromagnetic field
If someone placed your naked smartphone on a table alongside two identical models, how would you determine which one is yours? If you're an engineer at Disney Research, you would pull out a little scanner and immediately pinpoint the handset based on the noise it emits. It definitely sounds a little futuristic, but a team of researchers at Disney's innovation labs found that every single piece of technology has its own unique electromagnetic signal, even if they're exactly the same make and model, and built a radio scanner to read them.
Apple's updated MacBook is indeed faster with longer battery life
Apple dropped some Mac news last week, but it might not have been the news you were waiting for. Neither the MacBook Air nor the MacBook Pro have seen a processor refresh since last year, and both have had the same design for several years now. So, if you were hoping for the mythical Retina display Air or an MBP with one of Intel's newer Skylake chips, you're still outta luck. If, however, you were waiting to pull the trigger on the 12-inch MacBook, this was your lucky week: Apple updated its lightest-weight notebook with newer CPUs, faster SSDs and a rose-gold option -- the first pink computer the company has ever made. Aside from the new color, which I am not reviewing so much as judging, the refreshed MacBook promises a 25 percent boost in graphics performance and an extra hour of battery life. I'd say those claims are indeed accurate.
Apple upgrades its MacBook series and adds a rose gold option
It's been just over a year since Apple launched its slimmer Macbook series. Today, the company is upgrading them with new processors (from Intel's sixth-generation Core M series), as well as refreshing the built-in Intel HD GFX, promising around a 25 percent faster graphical performance. On top of new processing muscle, there's faster flash storage and improved battery life. Apple claims you'll get up to 10 hours of web browsing, and up to 11 hours of movie playback with the new machines. However, if you were looking for more ports, you're still going to have to look elsewhere -- or splurge on a hub.
Apple is replacing USB-C cables that shipped with early MacBooks
If you were an early adopter of Apple's slimmed-down MacBook, then this may apply to you. According to the company, a "limited number" of laptops sold between its launch in April of 2015 and June 2015 have USB-C cables that could fail due to an unspecified "design issue." You can identify the faulty cables that need replacing by reading the label, which says "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." without a serial number after that. The MacBook was one of the first devices to support the new standard when it arrived last year, and since then we've come to learn that finding quality cables is both harder and more important than ever.
Apple's Tim Cook says a converged MacBook and iPad won't happen
Apple CEO Tim Cook isn't sold on the Surface, and the company doesn't plan on bringing together its MacBook or iPad into a single product like Microsoft's computing device, either. In an interview with the Irish Independent, Cook said: "We feel strongly that customers are not really looking for a converged Mac and iPad." This follows comments the CEO made in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, where he questioned why anyone would buy a PC -- those comments were apparently aimed at Windows PCs, not his company's own computer range. "We don't regard Macs and PCs to be the same."
Google engineer takes on subpar USB Type-C cables
Trying to save a few bucks by purchasing offbrand cables? We've all done it -- but there's something you should know about new USB Type-C connectors popping up on cellphones (Nexus, OnePlus), laptops (Macbook, Pixel), tablets (Pixel C) and even Apple TV. The reason why they can charge so many devices, is their ability to transmit currents up to 3A, which could be 50 to 100 percent more electricity than older standards. That's why Google engineer Benson Leung has been putting various USB-C cables sold on Amazon to the test. He worked on both of Google's recent Pixel devices that use the new cable to charge, and found that many of the cables advertised as Type-C aren't actually suited for use with the laptop. They might not be wired properly to charge a laptop, or they don't accurately identify the power source -- something that could damage your laptop, USB hub or charger.
Apple will fix your MacBook's worn-out display coating
The Retina display on your MacBook or MacBook Pro is supposed to look gorgeous. However, some owners have encountered just the opposite -- the screen's anti-reflective coating is wearing out quickly due to pressure or stains, leaving them with an unsightly laptop (and in some cases, a repair bill). Relief is in sight, though. MacRumors understands that Apple has quietly launched a program that will replace the screens on Retina-equipped MacBook and MacBook Pro models for free until either October 16th, 2016 or three years from when you bought your system, whichever is longer. You'll get compensation if you've already had to pay for a fix. Apple reportedly won't advertise this program like it does in other cases, but that's fine as long as it keeps your premium computer looking pristine. [Image credit: Cody Yuwapun, Change.org]
iPhones and China fuel Apple's growth, not the Watch
It's that time again — Apple just dropped its Q3 2015 earnings and despite missing Wall Street's always-lofty expectations, it's been a solid three months of growth thanks to the two usual suspects. Say it with us now, folks: It's all thanks to the iPhone and China. (If you're the sort who cares, Apple just missed most Wall Street estimates by posting earnings of $1.85 per share.)
Apple adds Force Touch to 15-inch MacBook Pro, cuts 5K iMac prices
Now that the people are used to the pressure-sensitive trackpads in the new MacBook and smaller MacBook Pro, it's high time that the 15-inch model joined the party. That's why Apple has revealed that it's bringing Force Touch to the larger of its pro laptops. It's not just the user interface that's been tweaked, since there's faster flash storage, a further hour of battery life and AMD's new discrete graphics hardware tucked inside. At the same time, the company has managed to get the base price for its 27-inch Retina Display iMac down to $1,999 by sacrificing the Fusion Drive. Even better, however, is that the top-line 5K iMac with a 3.5GHz chip will now set you back $2,299, at least before you pick some build-to-order options, obviously. Both devices are available from today at the company's online and retail stores, as well as authorized resellers.
Apple's extra-slim MacBook is near impossible to fix yourself
It's already evident that most Apple computers aren't designed with do-it-yourself repairs in mind, but the new MacBook takes that inaccessibility to a new level. The crew at iFixit has torn down the ultra-slim machine, and it's clear that Apple took away a lot of repair options in its quest to squeeze everything into such a compact metal shell. The giant battery is glued firmly to the case, while the processor, memory and storage are all soldered to the tiny motherboard. Even the lone USB port is buried under other components, so it won't be easy to replace if it breaks. The findings aren't completely shocking -- Apple is treating the MacBook more as a high-powered iPad than a conventional computer, and designed the system accordingly. Still, you'll want to look elsewhere if you insist on fixing or upgrading PCs at home.
